Dustin Byfuglien at forward seems to be getting more permanent by the day.

The 28-year-old moved from defence to right wing on Jan. 11 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and the Jets are 6-3 since. He has six points and is an even player, although some of his points have come while manning the point on the power play.

"I like the way he's playing," Jets head coach Paul Maurice said Thursday. "He's into the game on the bench, he's finishing checks, he's engaged in what he's doing, he doesn't at all look like a player who's waiting for this experiment not to work and 'I'm going to go back to where I want to.' I don't get any of that for him.

"He's a forward right now. Until he makes us a better team by going on defence then he stays there. Right now he's doing a real good job."

GRUMPY GUS

It's been mostly sunshine and lollipops around the Jets since Maurice arrived nearly three weeks ago, but that changed on Thursday.

The coach skated his charges at the end of their practice at MTS Centre and then was as happy as a guy with an ingrown toenail afterwards.

"We've got some areas to improve on," Maurice snarled with a scowl on his face shortly after stepping to the podium.

Maybe he was upset about turning 47 years old on Thursday or that people knew about it.

"I've been fortunate enough to not have anybody mention it until now," he said. "I was really kinda hoping we could get past that."

We think he was kidding. Maybe.

ROSTER WATCH

Forwards Blake Wheeler and Eric O'Dell missed Thursday's practice at MTS Centre, but Wheeler, who leads the Jets with a career-high 22 goals, will be good to go Friday night against the Vancouver Canucks.

O'Dell was away from the team after becoming a new father to a baby girl on Thursday. Maurice wasn't sure if he will be back to face the Canucks.

AROUND THE GLASS

Friday's contest is Winnipeg's final home game before the Olympic break. The Jets will next play at home on Feb. 27, when the Phoenix Coyotes pay a visit "¦ The Jets are 6-2 under Maurice "¦ The Canucks have lost three of their last four, including a 5-2 setback to the Chicago Blackhawks at home on Wednesday "¦ The last time the Canucks played a regular-season game in Winnipeg was on Feb. 21, 1996, when they beat the Jets 5-3 on the strength of two Alexander Mogilny goals.

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Up front with Buff

Dustin Byfuglien at forward seems to be getting more permanent by the day.

The 28-year-old moved from defence to right wing on Jan. 11 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and the Jets are 6-3 since. He has six points and is an even player, although some of his points have come while manning the point on the power play.

"I like the way he's playing," Jets head coach Paul Maurice said Thursday. "He's into the game on the bench, he's finishing checks, he's engaged in what he's doing, he doesn't at all look like a player who's waiting for this experiment not to work and 'I'm going to go back to where I want to.' I don't get any of that for him.

"He's a forward right now. Until he makes us a better team by going on defence then he stays there. Right now he's doing a real good job."

GRUMPY GUS

It's been mostly sunshine and lollipops around the Jets since Maurice arrived nearly three weeks ago, but that changed on Thursday.